Aston Villa 3 Crystal Palace 0 - Report

Goals from Bertrand Traore, Kortney Hause and Anwar El Ghazi were enough to earn a third win in four Premier League matches for Dean Smith’s team, who had Tyrone Mings sent-off just before half-time.

Traore opened the scoring inside five minutes before Mings was dismissed after picking up two bookings in quick succession.

But Villa remained in control of the match and ran out comfortable winners as Hause and El Ghazi struck in the second half.

Analysis

The result ended a four-match home winless streak for Villa and was their first victory on home turf since the 7-2 thrashing of champions Liverpool in early October.

While that particular performance delivered a statement, this one was arguably even more impressive considering it was achieved playing a man down for the entire second half after Mings was dismissed.

Palace, thumped 7-0 by Liverpool in their previous match, were admittedly abject. But this was still excellent from Smith#s team, who showcased their top half credentials in front of their biggest audience of the season, with the match broadcast live on the BBC.

In front through Traore, they could and should have been further ahead before Mings saw red for two fouls in quick succession on Wilfried Zaha.

Yet rather than sit back and soak up pressure in the second period, Villa continued to attack, club record signing Ollie Watkins in particular impressing in a performance which had everything but the goal.

He was still heavily involved as Hause and El Ghazi made the match safe, while Villa remain resolute in defence as they recorded a fourth clean sheet on the spin and their eighth in 13th matches so far.

An unchanged starting line-up meant another start for Kortney Hause alongside Mings in the heart of defence.

Ezri Konsa, who had missed the previous two matches through illness, was on a bench which also featured Tom Heaton, with the goalkeeper named in a matchday squad for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury on New Year’s Day.

Villa’s defence was almost breached inside the opening minute.

Traore’s attempted backpass from inside his own half was blocked and a touch from Benteke sent Zaha scampering clear. The Nigeria international went racing into the box but goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was out quickly to block his shot.

Villa’s opener showcased their threat on the counter. A move which started with Matt Targett won a defensive header accelerated when John McGinn fired a pass from his own half to Traore. The winger fed Watkins, whose pace proved too much for Scott Dann as he raced into the box. Though Vicente Guaita proved equal to the shot, the Palace keeper could only redirect the ball to Traore who thumped home his second Premier League goal of the season.

The Burkina Faso international was involved in much of Villa’s best work during the opening half, almost getting a second with a shot which crashed off the base of the post.

It was then Traore who, following another swift counter from the hosts, played Jack Grealish through on goal, the skipper sending a relatively weak left-footed effort straight at Guaita.

The visiting keeper was rarely out of the action, next saving from El Ghazi after a deep Watkins cross had found the winger free at the far post.

Palace had enough of the ball but could not work anything in the way of clear-cut chance, with the only real alarm for Villa a VAR midway through the half, when referee Anthony Taylor, having consulted the pitchside monitor, opted to stick with his original view Matty Cash’s challenge on Patrick van Aanholt did not constitute a penalty.

But the visitors were given hope at the end of the half when Mings saw red. Booked just a few minutes before following a scuffle with Zaha, the defender found himself isolated when he failed to deal with a ball over the top and duly upended the forward to earn a second yellow.

Smith sacrificed Traore to bring on Ezri Konsa and Villa, reorganised, began the second half well.

For a period they actually looked the more dangerous team though Watkins was unable to do anything with crosses from El Ghazi and Cash.

The striker was then heavily involved as Villa grabbed a precious second. Luka Milivojevic brought down El Ghazi on the right flank and when the winger swung in the free-kick, Palace were all at sea. Watkins reacted quickest to a loose ball, sending a header against the top of the bar with Hause then outjumping Dann to nod over the line despite the best efforts of Guaita to keep it out. It was the defender’s second Premier League goal for the club, having previously netted in a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in June.

Watkins was working tirelessly on his own upfront and again key as Villa bagged their third. Having seen his own chance to shoot lost when he was unable to quite reach Grealish’s pass, he duly set-up El Ghazi to thump a vicious first-time finish in off the far post.

The goal just simply wouldn’t arrive for Watkins, who was again denied by Guaita before also hitting the post late on.

Key Moments

5 - GOAL - Bertrand Traore gets Villa off to a great start, firing home the rebound after Vicente Guaita saves Ollie Watkins’ initial effort following a rapid counter attack.

45- RED CARD Tyrone Mings is sent-off after picking up a second booking in the space of a few minutes.

66 - GOAL - Villa double their lead as Kortney Hause outjumps Scott Dann to head home after Watkins had nodded against the bar.

76 - GOAL - Anwar El Ghazi gets his fourth goal in as many games, thumping a first-time finish off the post after being teed up by Watkins.

Teams

Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash, Hause, Mings, Targett, Luiz (Ramsey 90+1), McGinn, Traore (Konsa 45+3), Grealish, El Ghazi (Elmohamady 86), Watkins Subs not used: Taylor, Guilbert, Nakamba, Hourihane, Ramsey, Davis, Heaton (gk).

C Palace (4-4-2): Guaita, Ward, Kouyate, Dann, van Aanholt, Schlupp (Townsend 81), Milivojevic (Riedewald 69), McArthur (Batshuayi 75), Eze, Zaha, Benteke Subs not used: Tomkins, Ayew, Clyne, McCarthy, Mitchell, Butland (gk).